What is hCG in ectopic pregnancy: deciphering the result

2024 Author: Priscilla Miln | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 00:21

hCG is a special hormone that is formed in the body of a woman from the moment of pregnancy. It is its presence that is determined in the first urine or blood tests, which are given by a woman when registering with a antenatal clinic. It is extremely important to know the indicators of such a hormone. Thanks to this, it is possible to determine whether pregnancy has occurred, as well as to predict dangerous phenomena. In the article we will analyze what hCG is during an ectopic pregnancy, does it change, what is it in general, how to determine it?

HCG hormone

hCG in medicine stands for human chorionic gonadotropin. It is secreted by the chorion, the so-called wall of the embryo. The hormone begins to be released from the moment the cell attaches to the walls of the uterus. This happens approximately 4 days after fertilization.

It is this hormone that affects the appearance of the second strip of a pregnancy test, due to which in the earlystages you can find out about the fact of pregnancy. When registering, blood and urine tests are also taken, which are examined for the hormone. It is important not only for determining the fact of pregnancy, but also for diagnosing a frozen, ectopic pregnancy. So, let's determine what hCG is in an ectopic pregnancy?

Production and measurement of hCG levels

Throughout the first trimester, a variety of hormones are actively produced. They ensure the normal development of pregnancy. The highest level of hCG is observed between 6 and 8 weeks of pregnancy. By the end of the first trimester, there is a trend towards a decrease in the level of the hormone, and the indicators remain at this level throughout the entire second trimester.

To detect pregnancy at an early stage, blood is taken already in the first week after the delay of menstruation, which was supposed to occur. In order to determine if there are pathologies in development, blood is taken for the hormone at 16-20 weeks. At the same time, other indicators are determined in parallel.

Normal performance

Display the normal level of the marker in the table to understand what hCG is in an ectopic pregnancy.

Pregnancy period in weeks	Mean analysis in mIu per ml
1-2	50-300
3-4	1500-5000
4-5	10000-30000
5-6	20000-100000
6-7	50000-200000
7-8	40000-200000
8-9	35000-140000
9-10	32500-130000
10-11	30000-120000
11-12	27500-110000
13-14	25000-100000
15-16	20000-80000
17-21	15000-60000

You can calculate the ratio of the hCG indicator to the norm, if the number fluctuates from 0.5 to 2, then there are no deviations.

Features of tabular data

When receiving test results, a woman should not jump to conclusions. Let's analyze some features of the data in the table, with the help of which we will identify what hCG should be during an ectopic pregnancy:

1. The table indicates the period of time that has elapsed since the moment of conception. Many women recognize the day of the last menstruation as the moment of the onset of pregnancy. These are different calculation methods, which means that the indicators will be completely different.
2. The above figures are ideal, actual results may be above or below acceptable limits. This is normal, because each organism is individual. To diagnose an ectopic pregnancy, the doctor additionally prescribes a number of studies.
3. Each laboratory makes research with its own methods and methods, which is why the results can be completely different, as well as the standards established by the clinic. Focus primarily on the standards laid down by the laboratory, they are based on the methods used by it.

What HCG for ectopic pregnancy?

Such a phenomenon is dangerous for a woman, you need to immediately remove the fertilized cell from the body until it begins to develop dynamically and harm. When determining the level of the hormone, many mothers are interested in what level of hCG during an ectopic pregnancy, does it change? Let's analyze several aspects of this situation:

1. HCG levels rise but remain lower than normal pregnancy levels.
2. The second line on the pregnancy test remains dim, it is faintly visible.
3. In medicine, the special norms set forth above are laid down, if there are deviations from them, the doctor prescribes additional studies.
4. Hormone study should be done every 2 days in dynamics. Under normal conditions, it increases by 2 times. What are the indicators of hCG during an ectopic pregnancy? They do not increase and the difference is very minimal, the maximum level increases 2 times per week.

If there is a suspicion of an ectopic pregnancy, the doctor prescribes additional studies, each of which we will consider further.

How does hCG change during normal pregnancy and pathology?

With a normally developing pregnancy, starting from the 2nd week from the moment of conception, the level of hCG increases dynamically. Every 36 hours, the concentration becomes 2 times greater. That is, if during the first study the result was 6 units per ml, then at the end of 3 weeks the level will reachalready 196 units. Until the 12th week, the figure will constantly rise, and then it will gradually decrease.

If an ectopic pregnancy occurs and develops, then initially, as mentioned earlier, the hCG levels will be below normal. Growth and dynamics will also be slowly visible. The main thing is to determine which hCG during an ectopic pregnancy at 3 weeks after conception. It is up to this period that the indicator, although slowly, will grow. After overcoming this time threshold, the growth of the hormone will stop abruptly. From this moment, a violation of the course of pregnancy and rupture of the tubes begins, which can cause serious harm to the he alth of a woman. It is desirable to remove a cell fertilized outside the uterus before 3-4 weeks from the moment of conception.

It is impossible to determine exactly which hCG indications for ectopic pregnancy are informative. It is necessary to consider everything in a complex, assessing the well-being of a woman and conducting other studies.

Blood test

Deciphering the result that a blood test shows is the most optimal and accurate at first. So, what is the level of hCG in an ectopic pregnancy? The transcript of the blood test shows an increase in the level of the hormone approximately 4 days after the moment of fertilization. In the normal course of pregnancy, the level is 15 mU per ml. An ectopic pregnancy is characterized by a rate below this figure.

A blood test is taken from a vein, it is done exclusively in the morning. It is necessary to donate blood on an empty stomach. Such studies are carried out no earlier than4 days from delay. In order to check the accuracy of the results, you need to take the analysis after another 2 days.

Urine test

What HCG for early ectopic pregnancy? Using a urine test, it is very difficult to determine the level in the early stages, because the hormone appears in the blood first of all, and only then it is formed in the urine. If in the blood you can see the result after 4 days from the moment of conception, then in the urine - only after 7-10 days. Urine is also used only in the morning, you do not need to drink a lot of water in advance so that the results are as accurate as possible. It is allowed to drink no more than 2 liters per day the day before. The decoding of the indicators is the same as in the blood.

If the results of urine and blood are doubtful and indicate abnormalities, an ultrasound is prescribed, with the help of which everything is clarified with an accuracy of 100%.

Pregnancy test

Women often wonder what kind of hCG test during ectopic pregnancy can be done to make sure the result. As noted above, the most informative type of study is a blood test.

The most common handy tool for determining the presence of hCG in a woman's urine is a pregnancy test. Having lowered the test into the biomaterial, it will be saturated with it and show a second strip if the level of the hormone in the urine is high.

Recall that a pregnancy test will definitely show the correct result only after about 13 days from the moment of fertilization of the egg. You need to use morning urine, it is advisable not to drink a lot so that the concentrationhormone did not decrease.

An ectopic pregnancy can affect the test in different ways, it can give both a false negative and a false positive result. Often there is a second strip, but it is weakly colored. It depends on the time frame. Remember that the test only shows the fact of pregnancy, it does not specify whether there is a pathology. This can only show the dynamics of the hormone levels in the blood or urine.

Other symptoms of ectopic pregnancy

Now that we have determined what HCG result in ectopic pregnancy shows blood and urine tests, let's move on to additional symptoms. The doctor must evaluate all indicators and signs in order to accurately and correctly diagnose a possible pathology. During this event, the cell can attach itself to the fallopian tube (in most cases) or to the ovaries, in the abdomen, in the cervix, or anywhere else. An ectopic pregnancy is characterized by:

1. The appearance of menstruation, it may come on time, but it will be more scarce, and will also be painful.
2. Weakness and tearfulness, sudden changes in mood and state may appear.
3. Nausea and dizziness are signs of toxicosis, as in normal pregnancy.
4. The appearance of discharge with blood impurities - they are spotting.
5. In an advanced case, there are sharp cutting pains in the lower abdomen, profuse bleeding and loss of consciousness - urgent hospitalization to the clinic is required.

In the event that a woman hasan ectopic pregnancy is diagnosed, urgent surgical intervention is required to prevent organ rupture and internal hemorrhage. It can lead to a large loss of blood and, as a result, to the death of the patient. Even if there is no bleeding, it is necessary to carry out surgical treatment of the disease. For a short period, it is necessary to remove the appendage, and in the event of a rupture of the pipe, it is removed. That is why it is important for the crane to diagnose and treat an ectopic pregnancy in time, which poses a serious danger to the patient.

HCG level and other pathologies

Indicators of the hormone in the blood or urine can both increase and decrease relative to the norm. If a significant decrease in the level of hCG is noticed, then this indicates not only a possible ectopic pregnancy, but also the following diseases:

• pathologies in the development of the embryo, which can cause its death, which requires the immediate removal of the fetus from the mother's body;
• missed pregnancy - a phenomenon in which the course of pregnancy stops and the fetus no longer develops;
• placental insufficiency.

If the level of the hormone exceeds the prescribed norms, this indicates the following:

• may develop diabetes;
• pregnancy with two or more children - multiple;
• toxicosis;
• pathology in child development;
• appearance of formations, both benign and malignant (tumors);
• erroneous calculation of gestational age.

Recall that an analysis for hCG is primarily necessary to determine the fact of pregnancy. About pathologies, deviations, diseases, this diagnostic method can only presumably tell. To make an accurate diagnosis, you need to pass additional tests and conduct studies that will more accurately determine the state of he alth and the course of pregnancy.